JP2007148733A - External memory use restriction method and program for realizing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To use only a specific external memory even when the external memory is connected with an information processing device in which external memory is prohibited from its use. <P>SOLUTION: A serial number of an external memory means is memorized in a table means in a personal computer in advance because each serial number is unique to the device. When the external memory means is connected with the personal computer in which the external memory means is prohibited from its use, the personal computer determines whether or not an ID is coincident with the ID memorized in the table means because a vendor ID and product ID are recognized at first at an information processing device side, and excludes the external memory means when the ID of the external memory means is not coincident with the ID memorized in the table means. Further, when the serial number among the consistent IDs is not coincident with the ID memorized in the table means, use of the external memory means is restricted. Thus, the external memory means identified by the serial number such as a specific product of a specific vendor can be only used. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an external memory use restriction method for restricting the use of an external memory such as a USB flash memory device (USB memory) when connected to an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer, and a program for realizing this method.

  An external memory that can be connected to a USB port, such as a USB memory or a portable hard disk, is compact and has a relatively large capacity, and is a very convenient storage device for carrying data. On the other hand, it is a device that has an undesirable aspect in terms of preventing information leakage.

On the other hand, the authentication data is stored in the storage unit of the USB device, and the authentication process is performed based on the authentication data and the authentication information input by the user when the USB device is connected. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-151867 discloses that a third party is prohibited from using a USB device, and illegal use such as data reference or modification is effectively prevented.
JP 2003-150285 A

  Patent Document 1 describes that authentication information is written in a storage unit in the USB device, and the user inputs the authentication information. The authentication information stored in the storage unit and the input information are identical. If it does, the USB device can be used, and there is a problem that confidential data in the information processing device is illegally taken into the USB device and flows out to the outside. Therefore, recently, there is a desire to prohibit the use of the USB device connected to the information processing device even at the expense of the convenience of the USB device, so even if the USB device is connected by the setting on the information processing device side, Under the present circumstances, the security of confidential data in the information processing apparatus is prioritized by making the use of the USB device prohibited and making it unrecognizable.

  As described above, there is a demand to connect a specific USB device even if it is an information processing device in which use of all USB devices is prohibited, and to take out data etc. stored in the inside so that it can be carried. Therefore, as in the invention described in Patent Document 1, the use may be permitted based on the authentication information. In this case, the USB device is connected to the information processing device in the USB device use prohibited state. Even if it is done, there is a problem that even the connected state cannot be recognized. Therefore, there has been a problem that it is necessary to perform the work of releasing the use prohibition state of the USB device, connecting the USB device, and returning to the use prohibition state again after data transfer.

  An object of the present invention is to use an external memory capable of using only a specific external memory even when the external memory is connected to an information processing apparatus in which the use of the external memory is prohibited. It is to provide a restriction method and a program for realizing this method.

The first feature of the external memory use restriction system of the present invention is that the step of connecting the external memory means to a personal computer that restricts the use of the external memory means and the serial number of the external memory means are stored in the table means. A step of determining whether or not the serial number matches, and if the result of the determination is that the serial number matches, the use restriction of the external memory means is released; Including the step of limiting.
Since the serial number of the external memory means is unique to the device, this serial number is stored in advance in the table means in the personal computer. Therefore, when the serial number of the external memory unit matches the serial number of the table unit, the external memory unit is excluded from the memory usage restriction target and can perform normal read / write processing. So that Accordingly, even when the external memory is connected to the information processing apparatus in which the use of the external memory is prohibited, it is possible to use only the specific external memory.

The second feature of the external memory use restriction system of the present invention is that the external memory means is connected to a personal computer whose use of the external memory means is restricted, and the vendor ID and product ID of the external memory means are stored in the table means. A step of determining whether or not the ID matches, and if the ID matches as a result of the ID match determination, the serial number of the external memory means matches that stored in the table means If the serial number matches as a result of the serial number match determination, the step of releasing the use restriction of the external memory means means and the ID match determination result in the IDs not matching. If the serial number does not match as a result of the serial number match determination, the step of restricting use of the external memory means is used. It lies in the fact that contains the door.
When the external memory means is connected to a personal computer that restricts the use of the external memory means, it is the vendor ID or product ID that can be recognized first on the information processing apparatus side, so this ID matches that stored in the table means. It was decided whether or not to match, and those that did not match were excluded at that time. Furthermore, when the serial number does not match the ID stored in the table means among the IDs that match, the use is restricted. As a result, it is possible to use only a specific product of a specific vendor and an external memory means having a specified serial number.

A third feature of the external memory use restriction method according to the present invention is that, in the external memory use restriction method described in the first feature or the second feature, the external memory means is a USB memory.
This requires that a vendor ID, product ID, and serial number are stored as external memory means, and a USB memory corresponds to such a device. Needless to say, the present invention is also applicable to a storage device other than a USB memory that can store a serial number.

The first feature of the program for realizing the external memory use restriction method of the present invention is that the use of only the specific external memory means is removed by connecting the external memory means to a personal computer that restricts the use of the external memory means. To determine whether the serial number of the connected external memory means matches the serial number stored in the table means, and if the result of the determination is that the serial numbers match The restriction on the use of the external memory means is canceled, and the use of the external memory means is restricted if they do not match.
This relates to a program for realizing, by a computer, the external memory use restriction method described in the first feature.

The second feature of the program for realizing the external memory use restriction method of the present invention is that the use of the external memory means is connected to a personal computer that restricts the use of the external memory means, and the use restriction of only a specific external memory means is released. To determine whether the vendor ID and product ID of the connected external memory means match those stored in the table means, and the ID matches as a result of the ID match determination If the serial number of the external memory means matches the one stored in the table means, and if the serial number matches as a result of the serial number match determination, the external memory means The restriction on the use of the means is released, and if the ID matches as a result of the ID match determination and the serial number match determination results in the serial number match If no is to restrict the use of the external memory means.
This relates to a program for implementing the external memory use restriction method described in the second feature by a computer. Note that it is possible to add a storage medium characterized by storing the program described in the first feature and the second feature to the claims as a protection target.

  According to the external memory use restriction method of the present invention, even when an external memory is connected to an information processing apparatus in which the use of the external memory is prohibited, the use of only a specific external memory is enabled. There is an effect that can be.

A preferred embodiment of an external memory use restriction system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an information processing apparatus to which the external memory use restriction method of the present invention is applied. This information processing apparatus is a normal personal computer or the like.

  The information processing apparatus includes a central processing unit (CPU) 10 that controls the operation of each component, a main memory 11 that stores a control program for the apparatus, a magnetic disk 12 that stores various data and programs, and the like. A display memory 13 for temporarily storing display data; a display (monitor) 14 as a display device for displaying an image based on the data from the display memory 13; a mouse 15 for operating a soft switch on the screen; The controller 16 includes a keyboard 17 having keys and switches for setting various parameters, a speaker 18, a LAN card 1c, and a common bus 19 that connects the above-described components.

  In this embodiment, the case where only the magnetic disk 12 is connected as a storage device other than the main memory 11 is shown, but in addition to this, a floppy disk drive, a hard disk drive, a CD-ROM drive, a magneto-optical disk ( MO) drive, ZIP drive, PD drive, DVD drive, etc. may be connected. Furthermore, it is possible to connect to various communication networks 1a such as a LAN (local area network), the Internet, and a telephone line via the LAN card 1c so that data can be exchanged with other computers 1b. Good.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the setting operation of the execution program of the external memory restriction method. In the present invention, an operation for setting the use / unrestricted state of the USB port provided in most personal computers is performed. In FIG. 2, personal computers 50 to 52 are connected via various communication networks 1a such as a LAN (local area network), the Internet, and a telephone line. The USB 20 containing the execution program for the external memory restriction method is inserted into the USB port of the personal computer 50. Thereby, the installation screen of the execution program of the external memory restriction method is automatically started on the personal computer 50. Since the USB 20 stores a vendor ID, product ID, and serial number that can be controlled by the execution program of the external memory restriction method, the vendor ID, product ID, and serial number are recorded in the personal computer 50 as a table. . Similarly, the vendor ID, product ID, and serial number that can be controlled by the execution program of the external memory restriction method are also recorded in the personal computers 51 and 52. This serial number is unique to the device, and an arbitrary one can be set according to the vendor ID and product ID at the time of setting.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing of the execution program. First, in step S30, it is determined whether or not a USB memory is inserted and connected to the USB port. If it is connected (YES), the process proceeds to the next step S31. If not (NO), the USB memory is inserted. Until the connection confirmation process in step S30 is repeated.

  In step S31, the vendor ID and product ID of the USB memory inserted and connected to the USB port are read, and whether the vendor ID and product ID recorded in the internal table match is verified. If YES, the process proceeds to step S33, and if not matched (NO), the process proceeds to step S32.

  In step S32, since it is determined that the vendor ID and the product ID recorded in the internal table in the previous step S31 do not match, it is determined whether or not the current personal computer setting is restricting the use of the USB port. If the use is being restricted (YES), the process proceeds to step S36. If the use is not being restricted (NO), the process proceeds to step S35.

  In step S33, since it is determined that the vendor ID and the product ID are recorded in the internal table in the previous step S31, it is determined whether or not the current personal computer setting is in the USB port usage limit, as in step S32. If the use is restricted (YES), the process proceeds to step S34. If the use is not restricted (NO), the process proceeds to step S35.

  In step S34, authentication is performed as to whether the serial number of the USB memory inserted and connected to the USB port matches the serial number recorded in the internal table. If they match (YES), the process proceeds to step S35. If they do not match (NO), the process proceeds to step S36.

  In step S35, the process is executed when it is determined in step S32 or step S33 that the current personal computer setting is not in the USB usage limit, and when it is determined in step S34 that the serial number matches the internal table. Then, standard processing (data read / write) for a normal USB memory is executed.

  In step S36, the process is executed when it is determined in step S32 that the current personal computer setting is in USB usage restriction, and when it is determined in step S34 that the serial number does not match the internal table. A warning that the use of USB is restricted is displayed on the monitor of the personal computer, or a warning sound is generated from the speaker 18 to notify the surroundings that an unauthorized USB memory has been inserted and connected to the personal computer while the use is restricted. To do.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the USB built in the execution program of the external memory restriction method is connected to the personal computer and the installation is performed has been described. However, such application software includes a magnetic disk, an optical disk, and a semiconductor memory. For example, the version may be easily stored by being stored in a storage medium or the like, or supplied via a communication network.

It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the information processing apparatus to which the external memory use restriction system of this invention is applied. It is a figure which shows the mode of setting operation of the execution program of an external memory restriction system. It is a flowchart figure which shows an example of a process of an execution program.

Explanation of symbols

10. Central processing unit (CPU)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Main memory 12 ... Magnetic disk 13 ... Display memory 14 ... Display 15 ... Mouse 16 ... Controller 17 ... Keyboard 18 ... Speaker 19 ... Common bus 1a ... Communication network 1b ... Other computer 1c ... LAN card

Claims (5)

Connecting the external memory means to a personal computer that restricts the use of the external memory means;
Determining whether the serial number of the external memory means matches the serial number stored in the table means;
Using the external memory, the step of canceling the use restriction of the external memory means if the serial numbers match as a result of the determination, and restricting the use of the external memory means if they do not match Restriction method. Connecting the external memory means to a personal computer that restricts the use of the external memory means;
Determining whether the vendor ID and product ID of the external memory means match those stored in the table means;
If the ID matches as a result of the ID match determination, determining whether or not the serial number of the external memory means matches that stored in the table means;
If the serial number matches as a result of the serial number match determination, the step of releasing the use restriction of the external memory means means; and
Using the external memory, including the step of restricting the use of the external memory means when the ID does not match as a result of the ID match determination and when the serial number does not match as a result of the serial number match determination Restriction method.   3. The external memory use restriction system according to claim 1, wherein the external memory means is a USB memory.   A program for connecting an external memory means to a personal computer that restricts the use of the external memory means and releasing the restriction on the use of only a specific external memory means. The serial number of the connected external memory means is stored in the table means. It is determined whether or not it matches the stored serial number, and if the result of the determination is that the serial number matches, the use restriction of the external memory means is released, and if not, the external memory means A program characterized by restricting its use.   A program for connecting an external memory means to a personal computer that restricts the use of the external memory means and releasing the restriction on the use of only a specific external memory means, and the vendor ID and product ID of the connected external memory means are It is determined whether or not it matches what is stored in the table means. If the ID matches as a result of the ID match determination, the serial number of the external memory means is stored in the table means. If the serial number matches as a result of the serial number match determination, the use restriction of the external memory means is released, and if the ID match determination results in the ID not matching, and If the serial number does not match as a result of the serial number match determination, the use of the external memory means is restricted. .

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